Information control apparatus, data analyzing apparatus, signal, server, information control system, signal control apparatus, and program

ABSTRACT

An information control apparatus comprises: a determination unit that determines at least an attribute of an object to be analyzed on the basis of captured image data acquired by an imaging apparatus fixed to a signal; and an output unit that outputs determination result information of the determination unit to a data analyzing unit that generates analysis result information on the basis of at least the attribute of the object to be analyzed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority toand the benefit of U.S. provisional application Nos. 61/508,026, filedon Jul. 14, 2011 and 61/508,536, filed on Jul. 15, 2011. Thisapplication is also claiming priority to and the benefit of JapanesePatent Application Nos. 2010-177724, filed on Aug. 6, 2010 and2010-177725 filed on Aug. 6, 2010. The entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information control apparatus, dataanalyzing apparatus, signal, server, information control system, signalcontrol apparatus, signal, and program.

2. Description of Related Art

For example, there is a television camera apparatus for trafficmonitoring in which a camera is mounted in a traffic signal and whichtakes photographs near the intersection and monitors the trafficsituation using the photographed image such as described in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-261990.

In addition, conventionally, a traffic signal receives a control signalfor changing a display state of a signal display unit from a high-ordercontrol apparatus and changes the display state of the signal displayunit on the basis of the received control signal, for example, such asdescribed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.10-97696.

SUMMARY

However, the television camera apparatus for traffic monitoringdisclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.11-261990 displays a photographed image on a monitor, and a person needsto view and confirm the photographed image in order to acquire theinformation regarding a vehicle within the photographed image, forexample When a person extracts the information regarding a vehicle andthe like within the photographed image on the basis of an imagephotographed in a traffic signal, there has been a problem in that alarge amount of time and effort are required.

Moreover, in the traffic signal disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 10-97696, there is a problem in that thedisplay state of the signal display unit cannot be appropriately changedwhen a control signal cannot be received from the high-order controlapparatus at the time of disaster, for example.

The aspect related to the present invention has been made in view of theabove point, and it is an object of the aspect related to the presentinvention to provide an information control apparatus capable ofacquiring the information regarding a vehicle and the like within animage photographed near a traffic signal, data analyzing apparatus,signal, server, information control system, and program.

It is another object of the aspect related to the present invention toprovide signal control apparatus, traffic signal, and program that arecapable of appropriately changing a display state of a signal displayunit even if a control signal for changing the display state of thesignal display unit cannot be received.

An aspect of the present invention has been made to solve theabove-described problems and is characterized in that a determinationunit which determines at least an attribute of objects to be analyzedbased on the captured image data acquired by an imaging apparatus fixedto a signal, and an output unit which outputs the determination resultinformation of the determination unit to a data analyzing unit thatgenerates an analyzing result information which is at least based on theattributes of the object to be analyzed, are provided.

In addition, another aspect of the present invention is characterized inthat a control unit which changes a display state of a signal displayunit fixed to a signal based on an image captured by an imaging unit,and a battery unit which supplies electric power to each component ofthe own apparatus, are provided.

According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible toacquire the information regarding a vehicle and the like within an imagephotographed near a signal.

In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, it ispossible to appropriately change a display state of a signal displayunit even if a control signal for changing the display state of thesignal display unit cannot be received.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of aninformation control system related to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing each configuration of the informationcontrol system related to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a table of signal surrounding informationrelated to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a table of vehicle attribution informationrelated to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a table of person attribution informationrelated to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the processing flow of a signalinformation control apparatus related to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the processing flow of a signalinformation control server related to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the processing flow of a mobilecommunication device related to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a signal systemand a signal control apparatus according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a state transition diagram illustrating the transitionbetween modes of a signal according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a crossroads (first example) asan example in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing an example of the detectedtraffic volume in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing an example of periods of lightingand extinguishing of a signal lamp in the second embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 is an operation diagram showing the operation of the signalaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a crossroads (second example) asan example in the second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detailwith reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of aninformation control system related to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, an information control system 100 includes aplurality of signal information control apparatus 2_1, 2_2, . . . , 2_nmounted in a plurality of signals (traffic signals)1_1, 12, . . . , 1nand a signal information control server 3. The plurality of signalinformation control apparatus 2_1, 22, . . . , 2_n and the signalinformation control server 3 are communicably connected to each otherthrough a network NW.

In addition, the plurality of signal information control apparatus 2_1,22, . . . , 2_n and the signal information control server 3 cancommunicate with a plurality of mobile communication devices 5_1, . . ., 5_m, which is mounted in a plurality of vehicles 4_1, . . . , 4_m,through the network NW. In addition, although a communication devicewith a car navigation function and the like mounted in a vehicle isdescribed as an example of the mobile communication devices 5_1, . . . ,5_m herein, the present invention is not limited to this, and each ofthe mobile communication devices 5_1, . . . , 5_m may be a personalcomputer or the like of a user in a vehicle.

Next, the configuration of the plurality of signals 1_1, 12, . . . , 1n,the plurality of signal information control apparatus 2_1, 22, . . . ,2_n, and the mobile communication devices 5_1, . . . , 5_m will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing anexample of the configuration.

Moreover, for convenience of explanation, the following explanation willbe given in a state where an example of a signal applicable to theplurality of signals 1_1, 12, . . . , 1n is set as a signal(trafficsignal) 1, an example of a signal information control apparatusapplicable to the plurality of signal information control apparatus 2_1,2_2, . . . , 2_n is set as a signal information control apparatus 2, andan example of a mobile communication device applicable to the pluralityof mobile communication devices 5_1, . . . , 5_m is set as a the mobilecommunication device 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the signal information control apparatus 2 and animaging apparatus 6 are fixed to the signal 1. The signal 1 and thesignal information control apparatus 2 are connected to each otherthrough an I/F (interface) 71. The signal information control apparatus2 and the imaging apparatus 6 are connected to each other through an I/F72.

This signal 1 includes a signal display unit 11 and a control device 12.The signal display unit 11 includes light emitting sections which emitlight of green(or blue), red, yellow, and the like and is controlled bythe control device 12 so that the light emitting section of each coloremits light at a predetermined timing. The control device 12 controlsthe light emitting section of each color of the signal display unit 11so that predetermined signal display can be performed. This controldevice 12 may control the light emitting section of each color to emitlight according to a timing determined in advance, or may control thelight emitting section of each color to emit light according to acontrol signal input from the signal information control apparatus 2.

The imaging apparatus 6 includes an imaging unit 61 which is a cameracapable of capturing a moving image or an image, for example Thisimaging unit 61 captures an image or a video image near an intersectionwhere the signal 1 is fixed, and outputs the captured image, which isobtained by imaging, to the signal information control apparatus 2through the I/F 72. In addition, when an object to be analyzed is avehicle, a high-resolution camera capable of detecting the specificfeatures indicating the license plate number, vehicle type, and the likeby image processing is used as the imaging apparatus 6. In addition, itis preferable for the imaging apparatus 6 to have high sensitivity todetect the specific features of an object to be analyzed even in thecase of imaging at night and to have high sensitivity to detect thespecific features even in the case of a vehicle traveling at the highspeed.

The imaging unit 61 acquires and outputs the captured image data atintervals of 1/60 second, for example.

The signal information control apparatus 2 includes an image processingunit 21, a determination unit 22, a signal surrounding informationgenerating unit 23, a storage unit 24, a control unit 25, acommunication unit 26, a temperature sensor 27, a timepiece unit 28, anda microphone 29. A signal ID (identification) which is a uniqueidentification number is given to the signal information controlapparatus 2. This signal ID is information for identifying each signalinformation control apparatus 2 and is also information matched with theposition where the signal information control apparatus 2 is placed.

In the temperature sensor 27, a sensor section which detects thetemperature is mounted in the signal 1 in a state exposed to the outsideof the signal 1, and the temperature sensor 27 detects a temperaturenear the signal 1 and outputs the temperature information indicatingthis temperature to the signal surrounding information generating unit23.

The timepiece unit 28 measures date and time and outputs the informationindicating the measured date and time to the signal surroundinginformation generating unit 23.

The microphone 29 is mounted in the signal 1 in a state exposed to theoutside of the signal 1, and the microphone 29 detects a sound near thesignal 1 and outputs the sound information indicating this sound to thesignal surrounding information generating unit 23.

The captured image data acquired by the imaging apparatus 6 is input tothe image processing unit 21 through the I/F 72, and the imageprocessing unit 21 detects an object to be analyzed which is presentwithin an image of the captured image data. For example, the imageprocessing unit 21 detects an object which moves (moving object), suchas a vehicle or a person, as an object to be analyzed.

In addition, the image processing unit 21 calculates a motion vector ofthe captured image data which continues in time series, and detects animage region corresponding to the moving object on the basis of themotion vector and also detects the moving speed of the moving objectwhich is an object to be analyzed.

The image processing unit 21 assigns a unique image ID to each item ofthe input captured image data and also outputs the captured image data,the image ID, and the information indicating the detected moving speedto the signal surrounding information generating unit 23 in a statematched with each other. In addition, the information which is outputfrom the image processing unit 21 and which is obtained by matching thecaptured image data, the image ID, and the information indicating themoving speed with each other is called image processing resultinformation hereinafter.

The data of an image region corresponding to the object to be analyzed(here, a moving object) is input from the image processing unit 21 tothe determination unit 22. The determination unit 22 determines theinformation regarding the moving object included in the image region byperforming pattern recognition on the data of the image region andoutputs the determination result information indicating thisdetermination result.

For example, the determination unit 22 determines the number of movingobjects, type (a vehicle or a person) of a moving object, and theattribute of a moving object on the basis of the data of the imageregion corresponding to the object to be analyzed (moving object)detected by the image processing unit 21 and outputs the determinationresult information indicating the number, types, and attributes ofmoving objects.

That is, when the type of an object to be analyzed is a vehicle, thedetermination unit 22 acquires the attributes of the vehicle, such asthe type (a bicycle, a large motorbike, a motor scooter, a sedan typeautomobile, a minivan type automobile, a light truck, or a heavy truck),a vehicle body color, the license plate number, the number of occupants,driver's sex, driver's age, and the like by pattern recognition, forexample. When the type of an object to be analyzed is a person, thedetermination unit 22 acquires the attributes of the person, such as,for example, sex, age, height, clothing, moving method (on foot, abicycle, or a motorbike), belongings (kinds of belongings, such as ababy carriage or a stick), and the like by pattern recognition.

In addition, the determination unit 22 determines the weather at thetime of imaging by analyzing the captured image data input from theimage processing unit 21. For example, the determination unit 22determines the weather at the time of imaging among sunny, cloudy, rain,and snow on the basis of the brightness, color of the sky, and theexistence of rain or snow, or the like of captured image data.

The signal surrounding information generating unit 23 writes the inputinformation in, for example, a table of signal surrounding informationshown in FIG. 3, a table of vehicle attribution information shown inFIG. 4, and a table of person attribution information shown in FIG. 5all of which are stored in the storage unit 24 in advance.

The image processing result information acquired by the image processingunit 21 and the determination result information acquired by thedetermination unit 22 are input to the signal surrounding informationgenerating unit 23, and the signal surrounding information generatingunit 23 writes the image processing result information and thedetermination result information in each corresponding table of thesignal surrounding information, the vehicle attribution information, andthe person attribution information.

In addition, the signal surrounding information generating unit 23writes each item of the captured image data in each corresponding tableof the signal surrounding information table, the vehicle attributioninformation table, and the person attribution information table togetherwith the temperature information indicating the temperature near thesignal 1 detected by the temperature sensor 27, the time informationindicating a time measured by the timepiece unit 28, and the soundinformation indicating the sound near the signal 1 acquired by themicrophone 29, respectively.

Here, the table of signal surrounding information will be described withreference to FIG. 3. In addition, an example of the information based onthe captured image data acquired at intervals of 5 minutes among thecaptured image data continuously acquired at intervals of 1/60 second bythe imaging apparatus 6 is shown herein. The present invention is notlimited to the above-described configuration, and image processingresult information and determination result information based on allitems of the captured image data may be made to match the table ofsignal surrounding information, the table of vehicle attributioninformation, and the table of person attribution information. Inaddition, the information based on the captured image data acquired atcertain fixed intervals may be made to match each table, or only theinformation acquired on the basis of the captured image data acquiredwhen a moving object is detected by the image processing unit 21 may bemade to match each table.

As shown in FIG. 3, the table of signal surrounding information is atable in which an image ID, date and time, the number of vehicles, thenumber of persons, vehicle attribution information, person attributioninformation, the weather, temperature, a noise level, and a signallighting color are matched with each other.

The date and time is information indicating the date and time at whichthe captured image data of a corresponding image ID is acquired by theimaging apparatus 6. Moreover, regarding the date and time, date andtime at which the captured image data is input from the imagingapparatus 6 to the signal information control apparatus 2 through theI/F 72 may be set as an imaging timing. The date and time is date andtime measured by the timepiece unit 28.

The number of vehicles is the number of vehicles included in thecaptured image data of the corresponding image ID.

The number of persons is the number of persons included in the capturedimage data of the corresponding image ID.

The vehicle attribution information includes a vehicle ID of eachvehicle included in the captured image data of the corresponding imageID. This vehicle ID is unique information assigned to each vehiclewithin an image, and is an identifier for matching each vehicle with itsattribution information with reference to the table of vehicleattribution information shown in FIG. 4.

The person attribution information includes a person ID of each personincluded in the captured image data of the corresponding image ID. Thisperson ID is unique information assigned to each person within an image,and is an identifier for matching each person with its attributioninformation with reference to the table of person attributioninformation shown in FIG. 5.

The weather is information indicating the weather determined by thedetermination unit 22. In addition, when the information indicating theweather of an area where the signal 1 is placed is received from anexternal server, which is connected thereto through the network NW, bythe communication unit 26, the weather information may be theinformation obtained by the communication unit 26.

The temperature is information indicating a temperature detected by thetemperature sensor 27 when the captured image data is imaged by theimaging apparatus 6.

The noise level is information indicating the sound volume of soundinformation determined by the signal information control apparatus 2 onthe basis of the sound information acquired by the microphone 29.

The signal lighting color indicates a color (green, red, yellow) lit bythe signal display unit 11 of the signal 1 when the captured image dataof the corresponding image ID is imaged The information indicating thesignal lighting color is included in a control signal output from thecontrol unit 25 to the signal 1, is output from the control unit 25 tothe determination unit 22, and is input from the determination unit 22to the signal surrounding information generating unit 23 together withdetermination result information.

Next, the table of vehicle attribution information will be describedwith reference to FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the table of vehicle attribution information is atable in which a vehicle ID, a license plate number, a vehicle type, avehicle body color, the number of occupants, driver's sex, driver's age,and traveling speed are matched with each other.

The vehicle ID is information which specifies each vehicle included inthe captured image data of the corresponding image ID.

The license plate number, the vehicle type, the vehicle body color, thenumber of occupants, the driver's sex, the driver's age, and thetraveling speed are information indicating the attributes of a vehicleindicated by the vehicle ID.

Next, the table of person attribution information will be described withreference to FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the person attribution information table is a tablein which a person ID, sex, age, height, clothing, moving method (onfoot, a bicycle, or a motorbike), belongings (kinds of belongings, suchas a baby carriage or a stick), and the walking speed are matched witheach other.

The person ID is information which specifies each person included in thecaptured image data of the corresponding image ID.

The age, sex, height, clothing, moving method, belongings, and walkingspeed are information indicating the attributes of a person indicated bythe person ID.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the storage unit 24 stores a table of signalsurrounding information, a table of vehicle attribution information, atable of person attribution information, and the captured image datamatched therewith. In addition, the storage unit 24 stores a signal IDassigned in advance to each signal information control apparatus 2.

The control unit 25 generates a control signal for controlling thelighting timing of a light emitting section of each color of the signaldisplay unit 11 so that predetermined signal display of the signal 1 isperformed, and outputs the control signal to the signal 1 through theI/F 71.

The communication unit 26 is communicably connected to the signalinformation control server 3 through the network NW. The communicationunit 26 transmits the table of signal surrounding information, the tableof vehicle attribution information, the table of person attributioninformation, and the captured image data, which are stored in thestorage unit 24, to the signal information control server 3 periodicallyor in response to the request from the signal information control server3. The communication unit 26 transmits the transmission information soas to match the signal ID.

A power supply unit 73 supplies stored electric power to the signal 1,the signal information control apparatus 2, and the imaging apparatus 6.

The signal information control server 3 includes a communication unit31, a data analyzing unit 32, an output unit 33, and a storage unit 34.

The communication unit 31 is communicably connected to the signalinformation control apparatus 2 through the network NW. Thecommunication unit 31 outputs to the data analyzing unit 32 the table ofsignal surrounding information, the table of vehicle attributioninformation, the table of person attribution information, and thecaptured image data received from the signal information controlapparatus 2.

The data analyzing unit 32 stores the table of signal surroundinginformation, the table of vehicle attribution information, the table ofperson attribution information, and the captured image data, which havebeen received from the signal information control apparatus 2 throughthe communication unit 31, in the storage unit 34. The data analyzingunit 32 performs various kinds of data analyses, which will be describedlater, on the basis of the information stored in the storage unit 34 andgenerates the analysis result information, which is based on theattributes of the object to be analyzed, on the basis of thedetermination result information and the like.

For example, the output unit 33 is a display device, such as a liquidcrystal display, or a data communication unit that transmits theinformation, image data, or the like to an external device or the mobilecommunication device 5 and outputs the analysis result informationgenerated by the data analyzing unit 32. For example, when the analysisresult information corresponding to a certain vehicle is generated bythe data analyzing unit 32, the output unit 33 transmits the analysisresult information to the vehicle. In addition, the output unit 33transmits the captured image data corresponding to the certain vehicleto this vehicle on the basis of the analysis result information.

The storage unit 34 stores the table of signal surrounding information,the table of vehicle attribution information, the table of personattribution information, and the captured image data received from thesignal information control apparatus 2. This storage unit 34 includes atable in which each signal ID and the position, at which the signal 1indicated by the signal ID is placed, are matched with each other.

The mobile communication device 5 includes a communication unit 51, acontrol unit 52, and an output unit 53.

The communication unit 51 is communicably connected to the signalinformation control apparatus 2 and the signal information controlserver 3 through the network NW. The communication unit 51 outputs tothe control unit 52 the captured image data received from the signalinformation control apparatus 2 or the analysis result informationreceived from the signal information control server 3.

The control unit 52 performs control to output the captured image dataand the analysis result information, which have been received throughthe communication unit 51, to the output unit 53.

The output unit 53 is a data output unit that outputs the data to adisplay device or an external display device, for example, and iscontrolled by the control unit 52 and outputs the captured image dataand the analysis result information.

Next, processing of the signal information control apparatus 2 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flow chart forexplaining an example of the processing flow of the signal informationcontrol apparatus 2.

As shown in FIG. 6, the imaging unit 61 of the imaging apparatus 6images an image near the intersection. Then, the captured image data ofthe captured image is input to the image processing unit 21 of thesignal information control apparatus 2 through the I/F 72 (step ST1).The image processing unit 21 assigns a unique image ID to the inputcaptured image data. For example, the following explanation will begiven using the case where the image processing unit 21 assigns an imageID “0002” to the input captured image data as an example.

The image processing unit 21 calculates a motion vector of the capturedimage data (image ID “0002”) and the captured image data (for example,an image with an image ID “0001”) acquired in the past which continuesin time series. The image processing unit 21 detects an image regioncorresponding to the moving object on the basis of the calculated motionvector and also calculates the moving speed of the moving object. Forexample, the image processing unit 21 detects 20 image regionscorresponding to the moving object and calculates the moving speed ofeach image region.

That is, the image processing unit 21 acquires the image processingresult information including the captured image data, the image ID“0002”, data indicating the image region corresponding to the movingobject (for example, information which specifies corresponding pixelsand the pixel value), and information indicating the moving speed ofeach image region (step ST2).

Then, the image processing unit 21 matches the captured image data, theimage ID “0002”, and the data indicating the image region correspondingto the moving object with each other and outputs them to thedetermination unit 22. In addition, the image processing unit 21 matchesthe captured image data, the image ID “0002”, and the informationindicating the moving speed of each image region with each other andoutputs them to the signal surrounding information generating unit 23.

Then, the determination unit 22 determines the information regarding themoving object included in the image region by performing patternrecognition on the data of the image region corresponding to the movingobject input from the image processing unit 21 and outputs thedetermination result information indicating the determination result(step ST3).

For example, the determination unit 22 determines that the data of eachof the plurality of image regions corresponding to the moving object isdata of an image region indicating the data of an image region, whichindicates 15 vehicles, and five persons by performing patternrecognition for determining the type and the number of moving objects.

In addition, the determination unit 22 determines the attributesindicated by the data of the plurality of image regions corresponding tothe vehicle, such as the vehicle type of the vehicle, a vehicle bodycolor, the license plate number, the number of occupants, driver's sex,and driver's age, by performing pattern recognition for determiningthese attributes of the moving object (vehicle) determined in advance.In addition, the determination unit 22 determines the attributesindicated by the data of the plurality of image regions corresponding toa person, such as the age of the person, by performing patternrecognition for determining these attributes of the moving object(person) determined in advance. In addition, the determination unit 22determines the weather at the time of imaging by analyzing the captureddata input from the image processing unit 21.

Then, the signal surrounding information generating unit 23 generatesthe table of signal surrounding information, the table of vehicleattribution information, and the table of person attribution informationon the basis of the image processing result information acquired by theimage processing unit 21, the determination result information acquiredby the determination unit 22, the temperature information indicating thetemperature near the signal 1 detected by the temperature sensor 27, thetime information indicating a time measured by the timepiece unit 28,and the sound information indicating the sound near the signal 1acquired by the microphone 29. That is, the signal surroundinginformation generating unit 23 stores the table of signal surroundinginformation, the table of vehicle attribution information, and the tableof person attribution information in the storage unit 24 so as to matchthe input information (step ST4).

Then, the communication unit 26 gives a signal ID to the table of signalsurrounding information, the table of vehicle attribution information,the table of person attribution information, and the captured imagedata, which are stored in the storage unit 24, and transmits them to thesignal information control server 3 (step ST5).

Then, the communication unit 26 determines whether or not the analysisresult information, which is a result of data analysis of the signalinformation control server 3, has been received (step ST6). When theanalysis result information has been received (step ST6-YES), thecommunication unit 26 transmits the analysis result information to themobile communication device 5 by radio communication (step ST7).

Then, when the new captured image data is input from the imagingapparatus 6 (step ST8-YES), the signal information control apparatus 2returns to step ST2 again to repeat processing.

Next, processing of the signal information control server 3 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flow chart forexplaining an example of the processing flow of the signal informationcontrol server 3.

As shown in FIG. 7, the communication unit 31 of the signal informationcontrol server 3 transmits a signal which requests transmission of theacquired information, for example, to the signal information controlapparatus 2 and receives the table of signal surrounding information,the table of vehicle attribution information, the table of personattribution information, and the captured image data received from thesignal information control apparatus 2 (step ST21). The communicationunit 31 outputs the received information to the data analyzing unit 32.

The data analyzing unit 32 stores the table of signal surroundinginformation, the table of vehicle attribution information, the table ofperson attribution information, and the captured image data, which havebeen received from the signal information control apparatus 2 throughthe communication unit 31, in the storage unit 34 and performs desireddata analysis, which will be described later, on the basis of theinformation stored in the storage unit 34 (step ST22).

When transmitting the analysis result information acquired by dataanalysis to the mobile communication device 5 (step ST23-YES), the dataanalyzing unit 32 transmits the analysis result information to thesignal information control apparatus 2, which is indicated by the signalID and from which the data has been transmitted in step ST21, throughthe communication unit 31 (step ST24).

In addition, when transmitting the analysis result information acquiredby data analysis to the output unit 33 (step ST25-YES), the dataanalyzing unit 32 displays an image indicating the analysis result on adisplay screen of the output unit 33, for example (step ST26). Inaddition, as described above, the output unit 33 may transmit theanalysis result information to the corresponding mobile communicationdevice 5 according to the analysis result information, or may transmitthe captured image data to the corresponding mobile communication device5. In this case, the output unit 33 may transmit the analysis resultinformation or the captured image data to the corresponding mobilecommunication device 5 directly through the network NW, or may transmitthe analysis result information or the captured image data to thecorresponding mobile communication device 5 indirectly through thesignal information control apparatus 2.

Here, when data analysis is not ended, the process returns to step ST22to repeat processing (step ST27-NO).

Next, processing of the mobile communication device 5 will be describedwith reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining anexample of the processing flow of the mobile communication device 5.

The communication unit 51 of the mobile communication device 5 performsradio communication with the communication unit 26 of the signalinformation control apparatus 2. When the transmission information isreceived in the area of communication with the signal informationcontrol apparatus 2 (step ST41-YES), the communication unit 51 of themobile communication device 5 outputs the information to the controlunit 52.

For example, when the communication unit 51 receives from the signalinformation control apparatus 2 the analysis result information which istransmitted from the signal information control server 3 to the signalinformation control apparatus 2, the control unit 52 displays an imageindicating the analysis result on a display screen of the output unit53, for example (step ST42).

Moreover, as described above, the mobile communication device 5 mayreceive the information or data, which is directly transmitted from theoutput unit 33 of the signal information control server 3, without beinglimited to the above method.

Here, data analysis by the data analyzing unit 32 of the signalinformation control server 3 will be described. The data analyzing unit32 can execute at least one of the data analyses described below.

<Data Analysis for Monitoring the Driving Conditions of a TravelingVehicle>

The data analyzing unit 32 of the signal information control server 3determines a dangerous area where a traffic accident tends to occur bydata analysis, for example

For example, the data analyzing unit 32 calculates the incidence rate ofsudden braking by a vehicle, which is an object to be analyzed, on thebasis of the determination result information by statistical processingand acquires it as analysis result information. In addition, the dataanalyzing unit 32 calculates the incidence rate of sudden braking on thebasis of the position corresponding to the signal ID by statisticalprocessing for each area and acquires it as analysis result information.

Specifically, the data analyzing unit 32 counts the number of vehicles,on which the sudden braking are hit, by the change in the travelingspeed of each vehicle on the basis of the traveling speed of the tableof vehicle attribution information. The data analyzing unit 32 performsstatistical processing of the rate of vehicles, on which the suddenbraking are hit, for each intersection.

The analysis result information indicating the rate of vehicles on whichthe sudden braking are hit for each area, which has been acquired asdescribed above, is useful information in that it is predicted thatthere is a possibility of a traffic accident at the intersection with ahigh rate of vehicles on which the sudden braking are hit and warningdisplay or the like indicating the danger at the intersection can beperformed.

In addition, the signal information control server 3 may make the signalinformation control apparatus 2, which is mounted in the signal 1 at theintersection with a high rate of vehicles on which the sudden brakingare hit, transmit the information for displaying a warning message tothe mobile communication device 5 of a vehicle, which is passing throughthe intersection, on the basis of the analysis result of the dataanalyzing unit 32.

In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 may detect the traveling speedof the vehicle on the basis of the information of tables of vehicleattribution information transmitted from the signal information controlapparatus 2 of the plurality of adjacent signals 1 and may specify avehicle on which the sudden braking is hit.

For example, the data analyzing unit 32 determines a vehicle indicatingthe same license plate number, vehicle type, vehicle body color, and thelike to be the same vehicle on the basis of the information of tables ofvehicle attribution information received from the signal informationcontrol apparatus 2_1, 2_2, and 2_3 mounted in the signals 1_1, 1_2, and13 which are disposed continuously in the traveling direction of thelane. The data analyzing unit 32 can determine whether or not thevehicle decelerates rapidly by comparing the traveling speed when thevehicle travels between the signals 1_1 and 1_2, the traveling speedwhen the vehicle travels between the signals 1_2 and 13, and thetraveling speed immediately before the signal 13, and the like.

In addition, without being limited to the vehicles on which the suddenbraking are hit, the data analyzing unit 32 may detect a vehicletraveling in a state deviating from the middle lane, a vehicle travelingwhile passing other vehicles, a bicycle or a person crossing theroadway, and the like by analyzing the captured image data and thedetection rate thereof statistically. Such information is usefulinformation in that a location, at which dangerous driving and the likeoccur, can be discovered.

In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 may determine a possibility ofcollision by calculating the traveling speeds of vehicles entering theintersection from the opposite directions. For example, the dataanalyzing unit 32 detects at least two vehicles, each of which is theobject to be analyzed and enter the intersection from differentdirections, on the basis of the determination result information,calculates a possibility of collision of the vehicles at theintersection on the basis of the moving speeds of the vehicles, andacquire it as analysis result information. Specifically, it is assumedthat signal information control apparatus 2_11, 2_12, and 2_13, whichare mounted in signal 1_11, 1_12, and 1_13 disposed continuously in thetraveling direction of a first lane, and signal information controlapparatus 2_14, 2_15, and 2_16, which are mounted in signal 1_14, 1_15,and 1_16 disposed continuously in a second lane crossing the first laneat the intersection U. In this case, the signals 1_13 and 1_16 are setat the same intersection U and control the flow of traffic in the firstand second lanes, respectively.

The data analyzing unit 32 determines a vehicle indicating the samelicense plate number, vehicle type, vehicle body color, and the like tobe the same vehicle on the basis of the information of the table ofvehicle attribution information and detects a vehicle A entering theintersection U from the first lane and a vehicle B entering theintersection U from the second lane. The data analyzing unit 32calculates the traveling speeds of the vehicles A and B and determineswhether or not the timing at which the vehicles A and B enter theintersection U is the same when the vehicles A and B enter theintersection U at the traveling speeds. When the entrance timing is thesame, the data analyzing unit 32 determines that the possibility ofcollision is high and transmits the analysis result information, whichindicates transmission of a message prompting slowing down because ofthe risk of collision, to the signal information control apparatus 2 ofthe signal 1 in the lane in which the vehicles A and B are traveling.The signal information control apparatus 2 which receives this analysisresult information transmits a message, which prompts slowing downbecause of the risk of collision, to the vehicle A or B traveling in thecommunications area.

In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 may calculate the existence oftraffic congestion and the length of traffic congestion on the basis ofthe number of vehicles and the traveling speed of the table of signalsurrounding information.

For example, the data analyzing unit 32 generates the informationregarding road congestion caused by vehicles on the basis of thedetermination result information and acquires it as analysis resultinformation.

When a plurality of vehicles whose traveling speeds are equal to orlower than a fixed speed are detected, the data analyzing unit 32calculates the length of these vehicles in the traveling direction ofthe lane. In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 reads the roadinformation stored in the storage unit 34 in advance, specifies the roadwhere the traffic congestion is occurring, and generates the congestioninformation indicating the road where traffic congestion is occurring.The data analyzing unit 32 transmits the congestion information to themobile communication device 5 through the network NW.

The mobile communication device 5 is a device with a car navigationfunction, for example. The mobile communication device 5 receives thecongestion information and outputs the information indicating thattraffic congestion is occurring on the basis of this congestioninformation. In addition, the mobile communication device 5 notifies auser of a path change when it is determined that traffic congestion isoccurring at the current position at the time of traveling or in a pathto the destination on the basis of the congestion information. The tableof signal surrounding information, the table of vehicle attributioninformation, and the table of person attribution information are usefulinformation in that the traffic congestion can be reduced when the userchanges a path according to the above.

In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 may detect an illegally parkedvehicle on the basis of the traveling speed and the vehicle attributioninformation of the table of signal surrounding information.

For example, the data analyzing unit 32 acquires the informationregarding a vehicle in violation of traffic rules, among vehicles whichare objects to be analyzed, as analysis result information on the basisof the determination result information.

In the determination result of the determination unit 22, the dataanalyzing unit 32 detects a parked vehicle on the basis of the travelingspeed in a plurality of items of the captured image data. When it isdetermined that the parked vehicle is a vehicle which has been parkedexceeding a period of time in a no parking area, the data analyzing unit32 reads the information including the license plate number, the vehicletype, and the like, which indicates the attributes included in thevehicle attribution information, from the table of vehicle attributioninformation and acquires it as traffic violation information.

In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 can acquire useful informationby data analysis in order to crack down on traffic violations, such asspeeding, signal violation, and other driving violations, as well asparking violations.

For example, when it is determined that a specific vehicle is travelingin a speed equal to or higher than the regulation speed on the basis ofthe information transmitted from the plurality of signal informationcontrol apparatus 2, the data analyzing unit 32 reads the informationspecifying the vehicle from the table of vehicle attribution informationand acquires it as traffic violation information by speeding.

In addition, when it is determined that a vehicle passing through theintersection is passing therethrough in a red state on the basis of asignal lighting color of the table of signal surrounding informationtransmitted from the signal information control apparatus 2, the dataanalyzing unit 32 reads the information specifying the vehicle from thetable of vehicle attribution information and acquires it as trafficviolation information by ignoring the signal.

In addition, when the data analyzing unit 32 observes the traveling pathand the traveling speed of each vehicle and detects a vehicle turningright at the intersection where right turn is prohibited or a vehicleentering the intersection without a halt on the basis of the informationtransmitted from the plurality of signal information control apparatus2, the data analyzing unit 32 reads the information specifying thevehicle from the table of vehicle attribution information and acquiresit as traffic violation information.

In addition, driving of each vehicle may be controlled on the basis ofthe analysis result information acquired by the data analyzing unit 32as described above. In this case, the mobile communication device 5 isconnected to a driving unit of the vehicle and controls a travelingdirection, a traveling speed, and the like of the vehicle according tothe analysis result information received from the signal informationcontrol server 3. For example, when it is determined that thepossibility of collision is high by the analysis result information ofthe data analyzing unit 32, the mobile communication device 5 of thecorresponding vehicle controls the driving unit of the vehicle to reducethe speed.

In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 may transmit the captured imagedata to the mobile communication device 5 together with the analysisresult information. Then, the mobile communication device 5 mounted inthe vehicle can receive, for example, the congestion information and thecaptured image data, which is an image of the road under trafficcongestion, from the signal information control server 3.

In addition, even if there is no traffic congestion, the data analyzingunit 32 receives the information indicating the traveling path of thevehicle from the mobile communication device 5 and acquires the capturedimage data transmitted from the signal information control apparatus 2of the signal 1, which corresponds to the road along which the vehicletravels from now in this traveling path, by search. Then, the dataanalyzing unit 32 transmits the captured image data to the mobilecommunication device 5. As a result, the user can check the situation ofthe traveling path by an image.

<Data Analysis for Acquiring Available Data in a Store Open Plan>

The data analyzing unit 32 of the signal information control server 3may acquire the information for analyzing a new store open plan by dataanalysis and output it to a computer which displays the informationregarding the new store open plan, for example.

This computer displays on a display screen, for example, the trade areainformation, the property information, and the information indicatingthe traffic conditions around stores or the information indicatingfeatures of passers-by. For example, this computer displays a mapdesignated by the user on the display screen, reads the informationrelevant to this map from a database, and displays it. The informationrelevant to this map is information indicating the volume of peoplepassing by or the volume of traffic in this area or the attributes orfeatures regarding this area.

The data analyzing unit 32 of the signal information control server 3acquires the information indicating the features of the area by analysisby associating it with this map.

For example, the data analyzing unit 32 acquires the information, whichcan be used in marketing analysis of the area where the signal isplaced, as analysis result information on the basis of the number orattributes of objects to be analyzed based on the determination resultinformation.

On the basis of the information indicating the date and time of thetable of signal surrounding information and the information indicatingthe number of vehicles and the number of people, the data analyzing unit32 calculates a volume of people passing by or the volume of traffic inthe area where the signal 1 is placed, during in each period of time ofa day such as morning, daytime, evening, and nighttime and acquires itas an analysis result. For example, if the volume of traffic of vehiclesis large in the morning and evening, it can be estimated that those whocommute in vehicles passes through the area with the signal 1.Therefore, this is useful information in that the features of the tradearea can be analyzed.

In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 acquires the informationindicating the features of persons passing through this area invehicles, as an analysis result, on the basis of the vehicle type,driver's sex, or driver's age of the table of vehicle attributioninformation. For example, if the vehicle type is a one-box car, thedriver's age is in the twenties or thirties, and the sex is female, itcan be estimated that a possibility of a housewife of a large family ishigh. Therefore, this is useful information in that the features of thetrade area can be analyzed.

In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 acquires the informationindicating the features of persons passing through this area, as ananalysis result, on the basis of the sex, age, moving method, andbelongings of the table of person attribution information. For example,if the sex is female, the age is “twenties to thirties”, and movingmethod is “pushing a baby carriage”, it can be estimated that apossibility of a housewife with an infant is high. Therefore, this isuseful information in that the features of the trade area can beanalyzed.

In addition, the signal 1 is provided at the place where people orvehicles come and go in many cases. Accordingly, by using the analysisresult by data analysis, marketing trends according to thecharacteristics of the area where the signal 1 is placed can be analyzedfrom the overall perspective.

As a result, in franchise business, such as a convenience store or apharmacy, it is possible to make a plan for a new store opening at afavorable location. For example, a franchise business company performsevaluation and settlement at the time of new store open planning usingthe store location map information, surrounding information, trade areainformation, population, trade area, expected sales, a layout pattern,and the like in materials of paper media when performing new storeopening. In addition, a franchise candidate also examines theprofitability or growth potential in store opening using the same data.

As described above, by acquiring the information indicating thecharacteristics of the area from the captured image data by each signalinformation control apparatus 2, various kinds of information regardinga new store open plan for supporting a new store open plan can beacquired.

In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 may analyze a change in volumeof people passing by according to the weather on the basis of theweather, temperature, and the number of people of the table of signalsurrounding information.

In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 may analyze the atmosphere ofthe area statistically using the information indicating the noise levelof the table of signal surrounding information. For example, the areawith a low average noise level can be estimated to be a quietresidential area.

In addition, the storage unit 34 may store the information forperforming pattern recognition, and the data analyzing unit 32 mayperform pattern recognition on the captured image data transmitted fromthe signal information control apparatus 2. For example, the informationwhich specifies the type or brand of clothes may be prepared in advanceas pattern information stored in the storage unit 34, and the dataanalyzing unit 32 may determine the type or brand of clothing of aperson included in the captured image data.

<Billing for Analysis Result Information Transmission>

The data analyzing unit 32 of the signal information control server 3may bill the user of the mobile communication device 5 to which theanalysis result information was transmitted.

For example, when the analysis result information to be transmitted to auser who joined the service for transmission of specific analysis resultinformation in advance is acquired as a result of data analysis, thedata analyzing unit 32 transmits the analysis result information to themobile communication device 5 of the user and also stores havingtransmitted the analysis result information to the user in the storageunit 34. Then, for example, after the elapse of a fixed period, the dataanalyzing unit 32 transmits service charges, of which payment isrequested to each user, to the billing center or the like according tothe number of times of transmission of the analysis result informationto each user, type of the transmitted information, and the like. Thisbilling center is a center which collects the charges of the servicewhich transmits to a user the analysis result information describedpreviously. A server which can communicate with the signal informationcontrol server 3 is provided in the billing center. This server storesthe personal information (for example, a user name or an identificationnumber of a mobile communication device) on a user who joined theservice for transmission of analysis result information and the servicecontent (for example, type of analysis result information whosetransmission is requested by the user), and the information istransmitted to the signal information control server 3.

Since the imaging apparatus 6 related to the present embodiment has highresolution and high sensitivity as described above, the signalinformation control apparatus 2 can acquire the detailed information,such as the type or attributes of an object to be analyzed, included inan image on the basis of the captured image data photographed by theimaging apparatus 6. As a result, the signal information controlapparatus 2 can generate a table of signal surrounding information, atable of vehicle attribution information, and a table of personattribution information matched with the type, attributes, and the likeof an object to be analyzed. In addition, the data analyzing unit 32 canacquire the characteristics resulting from behavior patterns of peoplein the area where the signal 1 is placed, by analysis, using the tableof signal surrounding information, the table of vehicle attributioninformation, and the table of person attribution information.

Therefore, the table of signal surrounding information, the table ofvehicle attribution information, the table of person attributioninformation, and the analysis result information acquired in this waymay be used to monitor the traffic situation and to understand marketingtrends according to economic trends, such as a store open plan, asdescribed above.

According to an aspect related to the present invention, it is possibleto comprehensively acquire the information regarding the area byacquiring such useful information from the signal 1 placed in most areaswhere people live.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodimentsdescribed above, and may have the following configuration.

For example, although the configuration where the data analyzing unit 32is mounted in the signal information control server 3 has been describedas an example, the data analyzing unit 32 may be mounted in each signalinformation control apparatus 2. In this case, the data analyzing unit32 mounted in the signal information control apparatus 2 may use thetable of signal surrounding information, the table of vehicleattribution information, the table of person attribution information,and the captured image data which are stored in the storage unit 24 byits own signal information control apparatus 2. In addition, the dataanalyzing unit 32 mounted in the signal information control apparatus 2may perform data analysis described above using both the informationtransmitted from other signal information control apparatus 2 and theinformation of its own storage unit 24.

As a result, since communication with the signal information controlserver 3 can be reduced, the processing speed can be improved.

In addition, although the configuration in which the signal informationcontrol apparatus 2 is mounted in the signal 1 has been described, thepresent invention is not limited to this, and the signal informationcontrol apparatus 2 may be mounted in the signal information controlserver 3. In this case, the signal information control apparatus 2mounted in the signal information control server 3 receives the capturedimage data transmitted from the imaging apparatus 6 mounted in thesignal 1 and performs the same processing as described above.

In addition, the signal information control apparatus 2 may have aconfiguration including a display device, such as a liquid crystaldisplay or an electroluminescent display panel, and may display theinformation according to the analysis result information on dataanalysis received from the signal information control server 3.

In addition, the signal 1 may be a movable signal placed in constructionsites or the like. The imaging apparatus 6 may be a camera capable ofperforming imaging in a range of 360°.

In addition, although only a signal for a vehicle has been described asthe signal 1 in the above, the signal 1 may also be a signal when aperson crosses the road (otherwise, roadway) or a signal for a train inthe railroad without being limited to only the vehicle.

The mobile communication device 5 is not limited to a device mounted ina vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile communicationdevice 5 may include a personal digital assistant, a personal computer,and other various devices with communication functions. Even if not onthe vehicle, the data from the signal information control apparatus canbe received through the communication device 5.

In addition, although the case where the object to be analyzed (movingobject) detected by the image processing unit 21 is a vehicle or aperson has been described, the object to be analyzed (moving object) isnot limited to this. For example, the object to be analyzed (movingobject) may be an animal, an insect, a floating object, and the like.

Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a schematic blockdiagram showing the configuration of a signal system 201 in the secondembodiment of the present invention. In the signal system 201, a signalcontrol apparatus 1100 provided in each of a plurality of signals and ahigh-order control apparatus 1200 are connected to each other through acommunication network 1300. Hereinafter, explanation will be givenreferring to the signal control apparatus 1100 as a signal 1100.

Here, the explanation will be given assuming that the plurality ofsignals 1100 are placed on the road and each of them is identified bythe identification information. The high-order control apparatus 1200transmits a control signal, which is for controlling each signal 1100,to the signal 1100 through the communication network 1300. As a result,the high-order control apparatus 1200 can control each of the pluralityof signals 1100.

The plurality of signals 1100 has the same configuration. Therefore, theconfiguration of one signal 1100 will be described herein. The signal1100 includes an imaging unit 210, a control unit 220, a signal displayunit 230, a power supply unit 240, and a sound pickup unit 250. Theimaging unit 210 and the control unit 220 are connected to each otherthrough an I/F (interface) 270. The control unit 220 and the signaldisplay unit 230 are connected to each other through an I/F 271. Thesound pickup unit 250 and the control unit 220 are connected to eachother through an I/F (interface) 272.

The signal display unit 230 includes a first light emitting section 231,a second light emitting section 232, and a third light emitting section233. The first light emitting section 231 lights green (or blue) andindicates that “may move” (hereinafter, referred to as “movable”) at thetime of lighting. The second light emitting section 232 lights yellowand indicate that “stop at the stop position at the time of lighting.However, you may move when it is not possible to stop at the stopposition” (hereinafter, referred to as “stop”). The third light emittingsection 233 lights red and indicates that “should not move”(hereinafter, referred to as “not movable”) at the time of lighting.

The imaging unit 210 includes an imaging apparatus, such as a CCD(Charge Coupled Device) image sensor or a CMOS (Complementary MetalOxide Semiconductor) image sensor and outputs a captured image to thecontrol unit 220 through the I/F 270. The imaging unit 210 is fixed tothe signal 1100. For example, the imaging unit 210 is fixed to thesignal 1100 so as to be located at the upper, lower, left, or right sideof the signal display unit 230. In addition, this imaging unit 210 maybe fixed to the signal 1100 integrally with the signal display unit 230.

As an example, the imaging unit 210 performs imaging in the azimuth of360° in the horizontal direction. In this case, the imaging unit 210 mayperform photographing in the azimuth of 360° by combining a plurality ofimaging apparatuses. In addition, the imaging unit 210 may performphotographing in the azimuth of 360° by performing image processing ofan image captured through a specular member with a shape of a triangularpyramid, a sphere, or the like.

The sound pickup unit 250 is a sound pickup device, such as amicrophone, and outputs pickup sound to the control unit 220 through theI/F (interface) 272. For example, the sound pickup unit 250 may be asound pickup device which includes a plurality of microphones and whichpicks up a sound so that the direction of a sound source can bespecified. The sound pickup unit 250 is fixed to the signal 1100. Forexample, the sound pickup unit 250 is fixed to the signal 1100 so as tobe located at the upper, lower, left, or right side of the signaldisplay unit 230. In addition, this sound pickup unit 250 may be fixedto the signal 1100 integrally with the signal display unit 230.

The power supply unit 240 supplies electric power to the imaging unit210, the control unit 220, the signal display unit 230, and the soundpickup unit 250 which are respective components provided in the signal1100.

The power supply unit 240 includes a power supply section 241, a batterysection 242, and a power switching section 243. Electric power issupplied from the outside of the signal 1100 to the power supply section241 through a power line. Electric power (electric charge) isaccumulated in the battery section 242, and the battery section 242outputs the accumulated electric power. For example, the battery section242 is charged by electric power supplied to the power supply section241 in a period for which electric power is supplied to the power supplysection 241 from the outside. The battery section 242 is a secondarybattery, for example

For example, the power switching section 243 supplies electric powerselected from either the power supply section 241 or the battery section242 to each component provided in the signal 1100. The power switchingsection 243 detects a voltage or current of electric power supplied tothe power supply section 241 and switches the power supply section 241,which supplies electric power to each component provided in the signal1100, to either the power supply section 241 or the battery section 242on the basis of this detected voltage or current.

Here, mode switching by the power switching section 243 will bedescribed using FIG. 10. In addition, the following explanation will begiven assuming that the case where electric power is supplied from thepower supply section 241 to each component provided in the signal 1100by the power switching section 243 is called a “first mode” and the casewhere electric power is supplied from the battery section 242 to eachcomponent provided in the signal 1100 by the power switching section 243is called a “second mode”.

First, when the signal 1100 starts (in FIG. 10, in the case of a state“startup”), the power switching section 243 changes the state to thefirst mode if first startup conditions are satisfied and changes thestate to the second mode if second startup conditions are satisfied.

The first startup conditions may be conditions in which a voltage orcurrent of electric power supplied to the power supply section 241 islarger than the threshold value set in advance, for example. Inaddition, the second startup conditions may be conditions in which avoltage or current of electric power supplied to the power supplysection 241 is equal to or lower the threshold value set in advance, forexample That is, the first startup conditions are conditions in whichelectric power from the outside is supplied to the signal 1100, and thesecond startup conditions are conditions in which electric power fromthe outside is not supplied to the signal 1100.

Then, for example, the power switching section 243 detects a voltage orcurrent of electric power supplied to the power supply section 241 whenelectric power is supplied from the power supply section 241 to eachcomponent provided in the signal 1100 (when the state is the firstmode). Then, when the detected voltage or current becomes equal to orlower than a threshold value set in advance (when the second conditionis satisfied), the power switching section 243 changes the power supplyto the battery section 242 (changes the state to the second mode).

For example, the second condition corresponds to a case where a powerline through which electric power is supplied to the signal 1100 is cutor a case where the facility which supplies electric power to the signal1100 fails in a disaster or the like.

In addition, the power switching section 243 detects a voltage orcurrent of electric power supplied to the power supply section 241 whenelectric power is supplied from the battery section 242 to eachcomponent provided in the signal 1100 (when the state is the secondmode). Then, when the detected voltage or current becomes equal to orhigher than a threshold value set in advance (when the first conditionis satisfied), the power switching section 243 changes the power supplyto the power supply section 241 (changes the state to the first mode).

For example, the first condition corresponds to a case where the cutpower line through which electric power is supplied to the signal 1100is connected or a case where the failure of the facility which supplieselectric power to the signal 1100 ends by restoration work after adisaster.

After that, the power switching section 243 changes the state betweenthe first and second modes. In addition, the power switching section 243outputs to the control unit 220 the information indicating that thestate is changed from the first mode to the second mode and theinformation indicating that the state is changed from the second mode tothe first mode. Alternatively, the power switching section 243 outputsto the control unit 220 the information indicating that the currentstate is the first mode or the second mode. Using this information, thecontrol unit 220 can determine whether the current mode is the firstmode or the second mode.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 9, the control unit 220 includes adetection section 221, a display control section 222, and acommunication section 223. The communication section 223 receives acontrol signal for changing the display state of the signal display unit230 from the high-order control apparatus 1200 through the communicationnetwork 1300. This control signal is control information indicating“movable”, “stop”, or “not movable”, for example. That is, this controlsignal is control information indicating that the first light emittingsection 231, the second light emitting section 232, or the third lightemitting section 233 is made to emit light.

In the first mode, the display control section 222 changes the displaystate of the signal display unit 230 through the I/F 271 on the basis ofthe control signal received from the high-order control apparatus 1200by the communication section 223. For example, in the first mode, whenthe control information indicating that the first light emitting section231 is made to light is received from the high-order control apparatus1200 through the communication section 223, the display control section222 makes the first light emitting section 231 provided in the signaldisplay unit 230 light and extinguishes the second and third lightemitting sections 232 and 233.

The detection section 221 detects the volume of traffic on the basis ofan image captured by the imaging unit 210. In the second mode, thedisplay control section 222 changes the display state of the signaldisplay unit 230 on the basis of the volume of traffic detected by thedetection section 221.

For example, the detection section 221 detects the volume of traffic ineach of a plurality of lanes on the basis of an image of the pluralityof lanes captured by the imaging unit 210. In this case, for the imageof the plurality of lanes captured by the imaging unit 210, thedetection section 221 detects a vehicle one by one in each differentlane by image processing or pattern matching technique, as an example Inaddition, the detection section 221 detects the volume of traffic ineach of the plurality of lanes by detecting the number of vehicles perunit time which travel in each lane.

The display control section 222 changes the display state of the signaldisplay unit 230 on the basis of a result of comparison of the volumesof traffic in the plurality of lanes detected by the detection section221. In this case, the display control section 222 changes the displaystate of the signal display unit 230 on the basis of the result ofcomparison of the volumes of traffic in the plurality of lanes detectedby the detection section 221 so that vehicles traveling in the lane withthe high volume of traffic can move with priority over vehiclestraveling in the lane with the low volume of traffic.

In this way, in the first mode, the control unit 220 changes the displaystate of the signal display unit 230, which is fixed to the signal 1100,on the basis of the control signal received from the high-order controlapparatus 1200 by the communication section 223. In addition, in thesecond mode, the control unit 220 changes the display state of thesignal display unit 230, which is fixed to the signal 1100, on the basisof an image captured by the imaging unit 210.

Next, an example where the display control section 222 changes thedisplay state of the signal display unit 230 on the basis of the volumeof traffic detected by the detection section 221 in the second mode willbe described using FIGS. 11 to 13.

Here, as shown in FIG. 11, a case of two lanes which are one-way streetswill be described. The lane A which is one lane of the two lanes is alane which is a one-way street from right to left on the plane of FIG.11. The lane B which is one lane of the two lanes is a lane which is aone-way street from top to bottom on the plane of FIG. 11. The lanes Aand B cross each other at the crossroads CRS.

In addition, in FIG. 11, a signal 1100-1 is placed before the crossroadsCRS in the lane A. In addition, a signal 1100-2 is placed before thecrossroads CRS in the lane B. The signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 have thesame configuration as the signal 1100 described above using FIG. 9.

Moreover, in FIG. 11, there is a stop line L1 before the signal 1100-1and a stop line L2 before the signal 1100-2 at the crossroads CRS.Therefore, at the crossroads CRS, a vehicle stops before the stop lineL1 and a vehicle stops before the stop line L2 according to the signaldisplay units 230 of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2.

Next, the volume of traffic detected by the signal 1100 will bedescribed using FIG. 12. Here, a case where the signal display unit 230of each of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 includes the first lightemitting section 231, which lights green(or blue) indicating “movable”,and the third light emitting section 233, which lights red indicating“not movable”.

In addition, explanation herein will be given assuming that the controlunit 220 of each of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 executes theextinguishing of the first light emitting section 231 and the lightingof the third light emitting section 233 almost simultaneously for thesignal display unit 230 provided in each signal. Moreover, on thecontrary, explanation will be given assuming that the control unit 220of each of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 executes the lighting of thefirst light emitting section 231 and the extinguishing of the thirdlight emitting section 233 almost simultaneously for the signal displayunit 230 provided in each signal.

In addition, each of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 performs imaging inthe azimuth of 360° in the horizontal direction, as described above.Therefore, the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 can detect the volumes oftraffic in the lanes A and B, respectively. Here, as shown in FIG. 12,the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 repeat display states of “movable” and“not movable” alternately through each signal display unit 230, forexample Explanation herein will be given assuming that periods of thedisplay states of “movable” and “not movable” are the same in length oftime.

For example, in a period T1, the signal 1100-1 indicates “movable”through its own signal display unit 230, and the signal 1100-2 indicates“not movable” through its own signal display unit 230. Then, in a periodT2, the signal 1100-1 indicates “not movable” through its own signaldisplay unit 230, and the signal 1100-2 indicates “movable” through itsown signal display unit 230. Subsequently, the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2repeat the same operation in periods T3, T4, . . . . In addition, theperiods T1, T2, T4, . . . are assumed to be the same in length of time.Here, the detection section 221 of the signal 1100-1 detects the volumeof traffic in each of the plurality of lanes on the basis of an image ofthe plurality of lanes captured by the imaging unit 210 of the signal1100-1. In addition, the detection section 221 of the signal 1100-2detects the volume of traffic in each of the plurality of lanes on thebasis of an image of the plurality of lanes captured by the imaging unit210 of the signal 1100-2.

For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the detection section 221 of thesignal 1100-1 and the detection section 221 of the signal 1100-2 detectthat five vehicles have passed through the lane A and no vehicle haspassed through the lane B in the period T1, respectively. In addition,the detection section 221 of the signal 1100-1 and the detection section221 of the signal 1100-2 detect that no vehicle has passed through thelane A and one vehicle has passed through the lane B in the period T2,respectively. Similarly, also in the periods T3, T4, . . . , thedetection section 221 of the signal 1100-1 and the detection section 221of the signal 1100-2 detect the volumes of traffic in the lanes A and B,respectively.

Then, the display control section 222 of the signal 1100-1 compares thevolumes of traffic in the plurality of lanes detected by the detectionsection 221 of the signal 1100-1, and determines that the volume oftraffic in the lane A is larger than that in the lane B in this case.For example, the display control section 222 of the signal 1100-1 maycompare the volume of traffic in each lane on the basis of the sum orthe average number of vehicles traveling in each lane in a period set inadvance, such as the period T1 to the period T4.

Then, the display control section 222 of the signal 1100-1 changes thedisplay state of the signal display unit 230 on the basis of this resultso that vehicles traveling in the lane with the high volume of trafficcan move with priority over vehicles traveling in the lane with the lowvolume of traffic. That is, in this case, since the volume of traffic inthe lane A is larger than that in the lane B, the display controlsection 222 of the signal 1100-1 changes the display state of the signaldisplay unit 230 so that vehicles traveling in the lane A can move withpriority over vehicles traveling in the lane B.

On the other hand, the display control section 222 of the signal 1100-2compares the volumes of traffic in the plurality of lanes detected bythe detection section 221 of the signal 1100-2, and determines that thevolume of traffic in the lane A is larger than that in the lane B inthis case in the same manner as the display control section 222 of thesignal 1100-1 does. Then, the display control section 222 of the signal1100-2 changes the display state of the signal display unit 230 on thebasis of this result so that vehicles traveling in the lane with thehigh volume of traffic can move with priority over vehicles traveling inthe lane with the low volume of traffic. That is, in this case, sincethe volume of traffic in the lane A is larger than that in the lane B,the display control section 222 of the signal 1100-2 changes the displaystate of the signal display unit 230 so that vehicles traveling in thelane A can move with priority over vehicles traveling in the lane B inthe same manner as the display control section 222 of the signal 1100-1does.

Here, physical quantities called the volumes of traffic in a pluralityof lanes are the same value as long as a measurement period is the sameeven if a measurement apparatus is different like the signals 1100-1 orthe signal 1100-2. Therefore, values of the volumes of traffic in aplurality of lanes detected by the detection section 221 of the signal1100-1 and the detection section 221 of the signal 1100-2 are the samevalue. Accordingly, on the basis of the volume of traffic detected foreach of the plurality of lanes, each of the display control section 222of the signal 1100-1 and the display control section 222 of the signal1100-2 can change the display state of the signal display unit 230 sothat vehicles traveling in the lane A can move with priority overvehicles traveling in the lane B. Thus, even when the signals 1100-1 and1100-2 operate independently of each other and even when the signals1100-1 and 1100-2 do not receive control signals from the high-ordercontrol apparatus, it is possible to change the display state of thesignal display unit 230 appropriately on the basis of the volume oftraffic detected for each of the plurality of lanes.

In addition, the display control section 222 of the signal 1100-1 andthe display control section 222 of the signal 1100-2 perform thefollowing operations, as an example, when changing the display state ofthe signal display unit 230 so that vehicles traveling in the lane A canmove with priority over vehicles traveling in the lane B.

For example, the display control section 222 of each of the signals1100-1 and 1100-2 changes the display state of the signal display unit230, on the basis of the volume of traffic in each of the plurality oflanes detected by the detection section 221 of the corresponding signal1100, so that a period for which a vehicle can move in the lane with thehigh volume of traffic becomes longer than that in the lane with the lowvolume of traffic as the ratio or difference of the volumes of trafficin the lanes increases.

In addition, on the contrary, the display control section 222 of each ofthe signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 changes the display state of the signaldisplay unit 230, on the basis of the volume of traffic in each of theplurality of lanes detected by the detection section 221 of thecorresponding signal 1100, so that a period for which a vehicle cannotmove in the lane with the low volume of traffic becomes longer than thatin the lane with the high volume of traffic as the ratio or differenceof the volumes of traffic in the lanes increases.

In the case of FIG. 12 described above, the display control section 222of each of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 changes a period of the displaystate by the signal display unit 230 as shown in FIG. 13, as an exampleFor example, each display control section 222 changes a period of thedisplay state by the signal display unit 230 so that the time lengths ofperiods T11 and T13, in which the signal display unit 230 (lane A) ofthe signal 1100-1 indicates “movable” and the signal display unit 230(lane B) of the signal 1100-2 indicates “not movable” become longer thanthose of the periods T1 to T4 shown in FIG. 12.

On the contrary, each display control section 222 changes a period ofthe display state by the signal display unit 230 so that the timelengths of periods T12 and T14, in which the signal display unit 230(lane A) of the signal 1100-1 indicates “not movable” and the signaldisplay unit 230 (lane B) of the signal 1100-2 indicates “movable”become shorter than those of the periods T1 to T4 shown in FIG. 12.Subsequently, each display control section 222 repeats changing thedisplay state of each signal display unit 230 in the same manner as inthe case of the periods T11 to T14 until the volume of traffic changes.

Thus, the display control section 222 of the signal 1100 can change thedisplay state of the signal display unit 230 on the basis of the volumeof traffic in each of the plurality of lanes detected by the detectionsection 221 so that vehicles traveling in the lane with the high volumeof traffic can move with priority over vehicles traveling in the lanewith the low volume of traffic.

<Operation of the Signal 1100 when Changing to the Second Mode>

Next, an operation of the signal 1100 in the second mode will bedescribed using FIG. 14. In addition, the operation of the signal 1100in FIG. 14 is an operation of the signal 1100 when changing from thefirst mode to the second mode, for example, as described using FIG. 10.

First, the imaging unit 210 captures an image and outputs the capturedimage to the control unit 220 through the I/F 270 (step S10). Then, thedetection section 221 of the control unit 220 detects the volume oftraffic on the basis of the image captured by the imaging unit 210 (stepS20). Then, the display control section 222 of the control unit 220compares the volume of traffic in each of the plurality of lanesdetected by the detection section 221 (step S30).

Then, the display control section 222 of the control unit 220 performssignal control by changing the display state of the signal display unit230 on the basis of the comparison result in step S30 (step S40). Instep S40, for example, the display control section 222 of the controlunit 220 changes the display state of the signal display unit 230 on thebasis of the result of comparison of the volumes of traffic in theplurality of lanes detected by the detection section 221 so thatvehicles traveling in the lane with the high volume of traffic can movewith priority over vehicles traveling in the lane with the low volume oftraffic. In addition, in this step S40, the display control section 222of the control unit 220 changes the display state of the signal displayunit 230 through the I/F 271.

Subsequently, the signal 1100 repeats the processing from step S10 untilit changes to the first mode.

In this way, in the second mode, the signal 1100 changes the displaystate of the signal display unit 230 fixed to the signal 1100 on thebasis of the image captured by the imaging unit 210. Therefore, thesignal 1100 according to the present embodiment can appropriatelyperform control to change the display state of the signal display unit230 even when the signal 1100 cannot communicate with the high-ordercontrol apparatus and even when the signal 1100 cannot receive a controlsignal from the high-order control apparatus.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 12 or 13, the control unit 220 provided ineach signal 1100 changes the display state of each signal display unit230 so that the display state of the signal 1100-1 is different from thedisplay state of the signal 1100-2.

Meanwhile, in the case of FIG. 11, the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 need tocontrol the signal display unit 230 of each signal 1100 using thecontrol unit 220 of the corresponding signal 1100 so that a vehicletraveling in the lane A and a vehicle traveling in the lane B do notcollide with each other at the crossroads CRS. For example, the controlunit 220 of each signal 1100 needs to control the signal display unit230 of the signal 1100 using the control unit 220 of the correspondingsignal 1100 so that a vehicle traveling in the lane A and a vehicletraveling in the lane B do not move toward the crossroads CRS at thesame timing.

That is, it is not allowed that both the display state of the signal1100-1 and the display state of the signal 1100-2 indicate “movable” atthe same timing. In addition, both the display state of the signal1100-1 and the display state of the signal 1100-2 may indicate “notmovable”.

Therefore, the control unit 220 provided in each signal 1100 changes thedisplay state of each signal display unit 230 such that the displaystate of the signal 1100-1 is different from the display state of thesignal 1100-2 and both the display states do not indicate “movable” atthe same timing.

As a result, a vehicle traveling in the lane A and a vehicle travelingin the lane B can alternately enter the crossroads CRS without thecollision between the vehicle traveling in the lane A and the vehicletraveling in the lane B at the crossroads CRS.

Meanwhile, as described above using FIG. 12, it is necessary to makeeach device measure the value of the physical quantity, which is calledthe volume of traffic in each of the plurality of lanes, as the samevalue even if apparatus which measure the volume of traffic aredifferent like the signal 1100-1 or the signal 1100-2. In order to doso, a start time, such as the period T1 for which the number of vehiclesis measured, and an end time need to synchronize with each other in thesignals 1100-1 and 1100-2.

For this synchronization, the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 may be made tobe able to detect a reference time by time measurement using aradio-controlled timepiece or by time measurement using a GPS (GlobalPositioning System). Then, each of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2measures an elapsed time from the detected reference time using atimepiece section present thereinside. Then, each of the signals 1100-1and 1100-2 measures a start time, such as the period T1 for which thenumber of vehicles is measured, and an end time on the basis of theelapsed time measured by each timepiece section. In this way, thesignals 1100-1 and 1100-2 may make the start time and the end time ofthe period T1 synchronized which the number of vehicles is measuredbetween the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2.

Thus, even if devices which the volume of traffic are different, thesignals 1100-1 and 1100-2 can measure the value of the physicalquantity, which is called the volume of traffic in each of the pluralityof lanes, as the same value. Accordingly, the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2can change the display state of the signal display unit 230appropriately.

In addition, in the explanation of FIG. 12, the signals 1100-1 and1100-2 compared the volumes of traffic in a plurality of lanes whenperiods from the period T1 to the period T4 elapsed and changed thedisplay state of the signal display unit 230 the on the basis of thecomparison result. However, the timing at which the volumes of trafficin the plurality of lanes are compared is not limited to this. Forexample, the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 may compare the volumes oftraffic in the plurality of lanes every period set in advance.

This “period set in advance” may be an arbitrary period set in advance.In addition, this “period set in advance” may be set on the basis of aperiod, for which the display state of the signal display unit 230 ischanged, by the control unit 220 of each signal 1100, as in the periodsT1 to T4.

In addition, this “period set in advance” may be each of the periods T1to T4. For example, each of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 may comparesthe number of traveling vehicles in the lane A with the number ofstopped vehicles in the lane B in the period T1 and change the displaystate of the signal display unit 230 on the basis of this comparisonresult.

In addition, each of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 compares the numberof traveling vehicles in the lane A with the number of stopped vehiclesin the lane B in each of the periods T2, T3, T4, . . . as in the case ofthe period T1. Then, each of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 may changethe display state of the signal display unit 230 on the basis of thecomparison result so that vehicles traveling in the lane with the highvolume of traffic can move with priority over vehicles traveling in thelane with the low volume of traffic.

In addition, when the sum of the number of vehicles traveling in aplurality of lanes becomes equal to or larger than the number set inadvance, the signals 1100-1 and 1100-2 may compare the volumes oftraffic in the plurality of lanes.

In addition, although the number of vehicles traveling in the lane orthe number of vehicles traveling for a unit time has been describedherein, the volume of traffic is not limited to these. For example, thedetection section 221 may detect the number of vehicles, which is thenumber of vehicles stopped before the crossroads CRS and is the numberof vehicles stopped in each lane, as the volume of traffic. In thiscase, the display control section 222 may change the display state ofthe signal display unit 230 so as to reduce the number of stoppedvehicles according to stopped vehicles.

<Case of a Plurality of Lanes>

In addition, although the case of two lanes which are one-way streetshas been described in the above explanation using FIG. 11, the signal1100 according to the present embodiment is not limited to such a caseof two lanes which are one-way streets, and may cope with the arbitrarynumber of lanes which are not one-way streets.

Here, an example of the arbitrary number of lanes which are not one-waystreets will be described using FIG. 15. In FIG. 15, the same referencenumerals are given to sections corresponding to each section in FIG. 9or 11, and the explanation will be omitted.

In FIG. 15, lanes Al and A2 which are opposite lanes and lanes B1 and B2which are opposite lanes cross each other at the crossroads CRS. Inaddition, signals 1100-1 and 1100-3 and signals 1100-2 and 1100-4 areplaced before the crossroads CRS in the lanes A1 and A2 and the lanes B1and B2. The signals 1100-1, 1100-2, 1100-3, and 1100-4 have the sameconfiguration as the signal 1100 described using FIG. 9, as in the caseof FIG. 11.

Moreover, in FIG. 15, there is a stop line L1 before the signal 1100-1and a stop line L3 before the signal 1100-3 at the crossroads CRS. Inaddition, there is a stop line L2 before the signal 1100-2 and a stopline L4 before the signal 1100-4 at the crossroads CRS. For this reason,a vehicle in each lane stops before the stop lines L1 to L4 according tothe lighting of the third light emitting section of the signal displayunit 230 of each of the signals 1100-1 to 1100-4.

Meanwhile, also in the case of FIG. 15, the signals 1100-1, 1100-2,1100-3, and 1100-4 need to control the signal display unit 230 of eachsignal 1100 by the control unit 220 of the corresponding signal 1100 sothat a vehicle traveling in the lane called the lane A1 or the lane A2and a vehicle traveling in the lane called the lane B1 or the lane B2 donot collide with each other at the crossroads CRS, as in the case ofFIG. 11.

For example, the control unit 220 of each signal 1100 needs to controlthe signal display unit 230 of the signal 1100 using the control unit220 of the corresponding signal 1100 so that a vehicle traveling in thelane called the lane Al or the lane A2 and a vehicle traveling in thelane called the lane B1 or the lane B2 do not move toward the crossroadsCRS at the same timing.

Therefore, as an example, the control unit 220 of each of the signals1100-1 and 1100-3 changes the display state of the signal display unit230 to the same display state at the same timing. In addition, thecontrol unit 220 of each of the signals 1100-2 and 1100-4 changes thedisplay state of the signal display unit 230 to the same display stateat the same timing. In addition, the control unit 220 provided in eachsignal 1100 changes the display state of each signal display unit 230 sothat the display states of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-3 are differentfrom the display states of the signals 1100-2 and 1100-4.

Moreover, as described above, it is not allowed that both the displaystates of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-3 and the display states of thesignals 1100-2 and 1100-4 indicate “movable” at the same timing. This isbecause vehicles traveling in different lanes may collide with eachother at the crossroads CRS if both the display states of the signals1100-1 and 1100-3 and the display states of the signals 1100-2 and1100-4 indicate “movable” at the same timing. In addition, both thedisplay states of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-3 and the display statesof the signals 1100-2 and 1100-4 may indicate “not movable”.

Therefore, the control unit 220 provided in each signal 1100 changes thedisplay state of each signal display unit 230 such that the displaystates of the signals 1100-1 and 1100-3 are different from the displaystates of the signals 1100-2 and 1100-4 and the display states of thesignals 1100-1 and 1100-3 and the display states of the signals 1100-2and 1100-4 do not indicate “movable” at the same timing. Accordingly,also in this case, the control unit 220 of each of the signals 1100-1and 1100-3 changes the display state of the signal display unit 230 asin the case of the lane A described using FIG. 12 and the control unit220 of each of the signals 1100-2 and 1100-4 changes the display stateof the signal display unit 230 as in the case of the lane B describedusing FIG. 12. Therefore, also in the case of FIG. 15, the signals1100-1 to 1100-4 can appropriately perform control to change the displaystate of the signal display unit even when the signals 1100-1 to 1100-4cannot communicate with the high-order control apparatus and even whenthe signals 1100-1 to 1100-4 cannot receive a control signal from thehigh-order control apparatus, as in the case of FIG. 12.

In addition, as indicated by the reference numeral P in FIG. 15, theremay be a vehicle which turns right at the crossroads CRS from the laneA1 to travel in the lane B2. That is, a vehicle which turns right at thecrossroads CRS may also be present.

Therefore, the display control section 222 changes the display state ofthe signal display unit 230 so that priority is given to right turn(right turn signal). Then, for example, it is possible to reduce anincrease in the number of vehicles which cannot turn right sincevehicles traveling in the lane A1 cannot turn right at the crossroadsCRS and stop near the stop line L1. Accordingly, the display controlsection 222 can reduce (alleviate) the traffic congestion caused byturning right at the crossroads CRS.

In addition, the display control section 222 changes the display stateof the signal display unit 230 so that a right turn signal time isadjusted. As a result, a vehicle easily turns right at the crossroadsCRS. In addition, it is possible to reduce an increase in the number ofvehicles which cannot turn right since vehicles cannot turn right at thecrossroads CRS and stop near the stop line L1. Accordingly, the displaycontrol section 222 can reduce the traffic congestion caused by turningright at the crossroads CRS.

In addition, when the display control section 222 changes the displaystate of the signal display unit 230 as described above so that priorityis given to right turn or the right turn signal time is adjusted, thedetection section 221 detects a vehicle turning right on the basis of acaptured image

For example, the detection section 221 detects a vehicle, which isstopped within the crossroads CRS or before the crossroads CRS and whichis located at the right end of the lane, as a vehicle turning right onthe basis of a captured image. In addition, it is assumed that adirection indictor, which indicates a direction when a vehicle changescourse by blinking and which is provided in a vehicle, is imaged by theimaging unit 210. In this case, the detection section 221 may detect avehicle turning right by determining whether or not a vehicle turnsright on the basis of an image of the direction indictor provided in thevehicle, the image being captured by the imaging unit 210. In addition,the detection section 221 may detect a vehicle turning right byarbitrarily combining such a method of detecting a vehicle turningright.

In addition, as described above, when a vehicle turning right isdetected by the detection section 221, the display control section 222changes the display state of the signal display unit 230 so thatpriority is given to right turn or the right turn signal time isadjusted.

In addition, the “display control section 222 changes the display stateof the signal display unit 230 so that priority is given to right turn(right turn signal)” is that the display control section 222 changes thedisplay state of the signal display unit 230 so that a vehicle turningright can move with priority over a vehicle which does not turn right orover the case where there is no vehicle turning right at the crossroadsCRS. The “vehicle which does not turn right” referred to herein is avehicle going straight in the lane without changing the course or avehicle turning left, for example.

As an example, it is assumed that the signal display unit 230 includes alight emitting section corresponding to right turn. In this case, thedisplay control section 222 changes the display state of the signaldisplay unit 230 so that priority is given to a vehicle turning right bycontrolling the display state of the light emitting sectioncorresponding to right turn.

In addition, the “display control section 222 changes the display stateof the signal display unit 230 so that the right turn signal time isadjusted” is that, for example, the display control section 222 adjustsa time for changing the display state of the signal display unit 230, sothat the period of time for the vehicle turning right becomes longercompared to a case there are no vehicle turning right or the vehicle donot turn right at the crossroads CRS.

As an example, it is assumed that the signal display unit 230 includes alight emitting section corresponding to right turn. In this case, the“display control section 222 changes the display state of the signaldisplay unit 230 so that the right turn signal time is adjusted” isthat, for example, the display control section 222 changes the displaystate of the signal display unit 230 by controlling the display state ofa light emitting section corresponding to right turn, so that a periodof time for the vehicle turning right becomes longer compared to a casethere are no vehicle turning right or the vehicle do not turn right atthe crossroads CRS.

<Emergency Vehicle Priority>

In addition, the detection section 221 may detect the type of a vehicleon the basis of a captured image. For example, an emergency vehicle hasa red light. Therefore, the detection section 221 may determine whetheror not a vehicle has a red light on the basis of a captured image anddetect the type of the vehicle as an emergency vehicle when the vehiclehas a red light. This emergency vehicle is an automobile forfirefighting, an automobile for emergencies, or a police car, forexample.

In addition, the emergency vehicle may have a predetermined color, suchas red or white. Therefore, the detection section 221 may determinewhether or not the vehicle type is an emergency vehicle by combining thecolor of a vehicle with the criteria for determining whether or not thevehicle has a red light. For example, the detection section 221determines whether the color of a vehicle is red or white on the basisof a captured image In addition, when the color of a vehicle is red orwhite and the vehicle has a red light, the detection section 221 maydetect the type of the vehicle as an emergency vehicle.

Moreover, in the second mode, when the detected type of the vehicle isan emergency vehicle, the display control section 222 may change thedisplay state of the signal display unit 230 so that the emergencyvehicle can move with priority over vehicles whose vehicle types are notemergency vehicles. As a result, the emergency vehicle can move in thelane with priority over vehicles whose vehicle types are not emergencyvehicles. Thus, it is preferable in a disaster or the like that anemergency vehicle can travel in the lane preferentially.

In addition, when detecting the type of a vehicle on the basis of acaptured image, the detection section 221 may detect the type of avehicle on the basis of a captured image and a sound picked up by thesound pickup unit 250. For example, when the type of a vehicle is anemergency vehicle, this vehicle may sound the siren. Therefore, thedetection section 221 may determine whether or not a siren sound isincluded in the sound picked up by the sound pickup unit 250 anddetermine whether or not the type of a vehicle is an emergency vehicleby combining this determination result and a determination erminedresult based on the captured image described above.

In addition, when the sound pickup unit 250 is a sound pickup devicewhich picks up the sound so that the direction of a sound source can bespecified, the detection section 221 can detect the direction of anemergency vehicle including a sound source which sounds the siren. Inthis case, the detection section 221 can detect an emergency vehiclemore accurately on the basis of the detected direction of the emergencyvehicle and the direction of the emergency vehicle detected on the basisof the image

Since it is possible to detect an emergency vehicle more accurately asdescribed above, the display control section 222 can change the displaystate of the signal display unit 230 more accurately so that theemergency vehicle can move preferentially in the second mode. Inaddition, since the direction of an emergency vehicle can be seen moreaccurately through the detection section 221, the display controlsection 222 can also estimate the lane, in which the emergency vehicletravels from now, more accurately. Accordingly, in the second mode, thedisplay control section 222 can change the display state of the signaldisplay unit 230 so that the emergency vehicle can move preferentially.In this manner, the emergency vehicle can travel in the lanepreferentially. Thus, it is preferable in a disaster or the like that anemergency vehicle can travel in the lane preferentially.

<Measures Against Afternoon Sun or Morning Sun>

In the signal display unit 230 that is described above by using FIG. 9,each light emitting section corresponding to one signal may include aplurality of light emitting elements. This light emitting sectioncorresponding to one signal is the first light emitting section 231, thesecond light emitting section 232, or the third light emitting section233 described above. In addition, as an example, the plurality of lightemitting elements is a plurality of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). Thatis, an emission method of the signal display unit 230 of the signal 1100described above may be a method using an LED.

Moreover, in this case, when making the light emitting section of thesignal display unit 230 light, the display control section 222 of thecontrol unit 220 makes some of the plurality of light emitting elementsprovided in the light emitting section emit light or extinguished whilemaking the plurality of light emitting elements emit light such that theposition of the place of emission or extinguishing in the light emittingsection changes. That is, the display control section 222 of the controlunit 220 makes the plurality of light emitting elements emit light bymoving only some lighting regions (or extinguished regions) instead oflighting all regions of respective colors of a signal which can light.

For example, when the afternoon sun, the morning sun, or the like shinesinto the signal 1100, it becomes difficult for a user who observes thesignal 1100 to see which of the plurality of light emitting sectionsprovided in the signal display unit 230 emits light.

On the other hand, when the display control section 222 of the controlunit 220 makes the light emitting section of the signal display unit 230lights as described above, the emission place of the light emittingsection that lights moves instead of simply lighting. Therefore, even ifthe afternoon sun, the morning sun, or the like shines into the signal1100, it becomes easy for a user who observes the signal 1100 to seewhich of the plurality of light emitting sections provided in the signaldisplay unit 230 emits light.

Moreover, when making the light emitting section of the signal displayunit 230 light, the display control section 222 of the control unit 220makes some of the plurality of light emitting elements provided in thelight emitting section emit light or extinguished while making theplurality of light emitting elements emit light such that the place ofemission or extinguishing rotates, moves, enlarges, or is reduced in thelight emitting section. In this case, it becomes easier for a user whoobserves the signal 1100 to see which of the plurality of light emittingsections provided in the signal display unit 230 emits light even if theafternoon sun, the morning sun, or the like shines into the signal 1100.

In addition, when making the light emitting section of the signaldisplay unit 230 light, the display control section 222 of the controlunit 220 makes the light emitting section emit light such that thebrightness of an extinguished light emitting element, which is a lightemitting element provided in the light emitting section that lights,changes. For example, when making the light emitting section of thesignal display unit 230 light, the display control section 222 of thecontrol unit 220 may make some light emitting elements emit light orextinguished as described above while changing the brightness of theextinguished light emitting element sequentially from the low brightnessto the high brightness instead of simply maintaining the extinguishedstate. In addition, the display control section 222 of the control unit220 may repeat this brightness change by changing the brightness of thelight emitting element sequentially from the low brightness to the highbrightness and then changing the brightness of the light emittingelement sequentially from the high brightness to the low brightness.

As a result, it becomes easier for a user who observes the signal 1100to see which of the plurality of light emitting sections provided in thesignal display unit 230 emits light even if the afternoon sun, themorning sun, or the like shines into the signal 1100.

In addition, although the respective signals 1100 operate independentlyof each other in the above explanation, the respective signals 1100 maycommunicate with each other. For example, the respective signals 1100may communicate with each other through the communication network 1300described using FIG. 9. In addition, communication through thecommunication network 1300 may be impossible in a disaster. Therefore,the signals 1100 may also communicate with each other through acommunication network different from the communication network 1300. Thecommunication network in this case may be a radio communication network.

In addition, in the case of FIG. 11, it is preferable that at least thesignals 1100-1 and 1100-2 related to the crossroads CRS can communicatewith each other through such a communication network. In addition, inthe case of FIG. 15, it is preferable that at least the signals 1100-1to 1100-4 related to the crossroads CRS can communicate with each other.

Moreover, also in this case, each signal 1100 changes the display stateof each signal display unit 230 so that vehicles traveling in differentlanes do not collide with each other at the crossroads CRS, as describedusing FIG. 11 or 15. For example, the control unit 220 provided in eachsignal 1100 changes the display state of each signal display unit 230 sothat the display states of the signals 1100 corresponding to the lanes,which are not opposite lanes, are different and the display states donot indicate “movable” at the same timing.

Thus, as long as the signals 1100 related to the crossroads cancommunicate with each other, the information called the volume oftraffic detected may be transmitted or received therebetween. In thiscase, in each signal 1100, the imaging unit 210 may be fixed to thesignal 1100 so as to image at least the lane in which traffic iscontrolled by the display state of the signal display unit 230. That is,the signal 1100 detects the volume of traffic only in the lane in whichtraffic is controlled by the signal 1100. Then, the detected volume oftraffic is transmitted to another signal 1100. In this way, all of thesignals 1100 related to the crossroads may detect the volume of trafficof all the lanes related to the crossroads.

Also in this case, each signal 1100 can detect the volume of traffic ineach lane on the basis of an image captured by the imaging unit 210 ofeach signal. Therefore, as described using FIG. 11 or 15, the signal1100 can appropriately perform control to change the display state ofthe signal display unit even when the signal 1100 cannot communicatewith the high-order control apparatus and even when the signal 1100cannot receive a control signal from the high-order control apparatus.

In addition, although the case where the signals 1100 related to thecrossroads communicate with each other has been described herein, thepresent invention is not limited to this. For example, the signals 1100placed in a line one by one in the same lane may communicate with eachother. Accordingly, each of the signals 1100 placed in a line one by onemay control its own signal display unit 230 so that vehicles, whichtravel in the same lane and pass through the signals 1100 placed in aline one by one, can move without making the vehicle “not movable” byany of the signals 1100.

In addition, when the signals 1100 placed in a line one by onecommunicate with each other, a radio communication unit provided in eachsignal 1100 may perform relay transmission. Thus, not only the signals1100 placed adjacent to each other can communicate with each other, butalso the signals 1100 located far from each other can communicate witheach other.

In addition, in the explanation of FIG. 10, the power switching section243 changed the state between the first and second modes on the basis ofa voltage or current of electric power supplied to the power supplysection 241. However, the power switching section 243 may change thestate between the first and second modes on the basis of a controlsignal for mode change without being limited to this. This controlsignal for mode change may be received through radio communication, forexample In addition, this control signal for mode change may bebroadcast in a disaster or the like. Therefore, each signal 1100 canchange the mode reliably without depending on a voltage or current ofelectric power supplied to the power supply section 241 in a disaster.

In addition, the signal 1100 may be a temporary signal for construction.In this case, the signal 1100 may operate by supply of electric poweronly from the battery section 242. Also in this case, the signal 1100changes the display state of the signal display unit 230 fixed to thesignal 1100 on the basis of an image captured by the imaging unit 210.Therefore, just by installing in the lane the signal 1100 which is sucha temporary signal for construction, the user can appropriately performcontrol to change the display state of the signal display unit 230 evenwhen there is no communication between the high-order control apparatus1200 and the signal 1100 and it is not possible to receive a controlsignal from the high-order control apparatus 1200. Accordingly, thesignal 1100 can control traffic appropriately. For this reason, such asignal 1100 is suitable for construction.

In addition, when the signal 1100 is a temporary signal forconstruction, the power supply unit 240 of the signal 1100 may supplyelectric power only from the battery section 242 to each componentprovided in the signal 1100. In this case, in the mode described usingFIG. 10, the power switching section 243 may change the state to thesecond mode after electric power is supplied and may also continuechanging the state to the second mode thereafter.

For example, when the signal 1100 is a temporary signal forconstruction, electric power may not be supplied from the outside. Asdescribed above, since the power supply unit 240 of the signal 1100supplies electric power only from the battery section 242 to eachcomponent provided in the signal 1100, the display control section 222can change the display state of the signal display unit 230 even if thuselectric power is not supplied from the outside.

Moreover, as described using FIGS. 9 and 10, in the first mode, thedisplay control section 222 changes the display state of the signaldisplay unit 230 through the I/F 271 on the basis of a control signalreceived from the high-order control apparatus 1200 by the communicationsection 223. However, the method used when the display control section222 changes the display state of the signal display unit 230 in thefirst mode is not limited to this.

For example, in the first mode, the display control section 222 maychange the display state of the signal display unit 230 on the basis ofthe volume of traffic detected by the detection section 221. That is,also in the first mode, the display control section 222 may change thedisplay state of the signal display unit 230 on the basis of the volumeof traffic detected by the detection section 221, in the same manner asin the case of the second mode.

In addition, in the first mode, the display control section 222 maychange the display state of the signal display unit 230 on the basis ofa predetermined timing set in advance.

In addition, although the case where vehicles pass through the left sideof the lane has been described above, the signal 1100 according to thepresent embodiment may also be applied to the case where vehicles passthrough the right side of the lane in the same manner as in the casewhere vehicles pass through the left side of the lane. In the case ofright-hand traffic, right turn in the case of left-hand trafficdescribed above is left turn. The right turn in the case of left-handtraffic or left turn in the case of right-hand traffic described aboveis that a vehicle changes course so as to cross the opposite lane to thelane in which the vehicle has traveled until now.

In this case, the “display control section 222 changes the display stateof the signal display unit 230 so that priority is given to right turn”described above means that “when a vehicle changes course so as to crossthe opposite lane to the lane in which the vehicle has traveled untilnow, the control unit 220 (or the display control section 222) changesthe display state of the signal display unit 230 on the basis of animage captured by the imaging unit 210 so that priority is given to thevehicle which changes course.

In addition, the “display control section 222 changes the display stateof the signal display unit 230 so that the right turn signal time isadjusted” described above means that “when a vehicle changes course soas to cross the opposite lane to the lane in which the vehicle hastraveled until now, the control unit 220 (or the display control section222) changes the display state of the signal display unit 230, so thatthe period of “movable” time for the vehicle which changes course isadjusted in a case when a vehicle changes course so as to cross theopposite lane to the lane in which the vehicle has traveled until now onthe basis of an image captured by the imaging unit 210.

In this way, when a vehicle changes course so as to cross the oppositelane to the lane in which the vehicle has traveled until now, the signal1100 according to the present embodiment can make the vehicle easilychange the course so as to cross the opposite lane to the lane in whichthe vehicle has traveled until now in both the cases of left-handtraffic and right-hand traffic. As a result, in both the cases ofleft-hand traffic and right-hand traffic, the signal 1100 according tothe present embodiment can reduce (alleviate) traffic congestion causedwhen vehicles change course so as to cross the opposite lane to the lanein which the vehicles have traveled until now.

In addition, when the signal 1100 according to the present embodimentcorresponds to both left-hand traffic and right-hand traffic, it ispossible to set to which of the left-hand traffic and the right-handtraffic the signal 1100 corresponds, through a setting unit provided inthe signal 1100, when electric power is supplied to the signal 1100 orwhen the signal 1100 is shipped. In addition, the control unit 220 maydetermine to which of the left-hand traffic and the right-hand trafficthe signal 1100 corresponds on the basis of the setting.

In addition, the signal 1100 may determine whether the lane in whichtraffic is controlled by the signal 1100 is left-hand traffic orright-hand traffic on the basis of an image captured by the imaging unit210. In addition, on the basis of this determination result, the signal1100 may set to which of left-hand traffic and right-hand traffic thesignal 1100 corresponds, through its own setting unit.

In addition, although only a signal for a vehicle has been described asthe signal 1100 in the above, the signal 1100 may also be a signal whena person crosses the road (otherwise, roadway) or a signal for a trainon the railroad without being limited to only the vehicle.

In addition, each component provided in the signal control apparatus1100 in FIG. 9, such as the detection section 221, the display controlsection 222, the communication section 223, and the power switchingsection 243, may be realized by dedicated hardware. In addition, eachcomponent may be configured by a memory and a CPU (central processingunit) and the function may be realized by loading a program forrealizing the function of each component into the memory and executingit.

In addition, processing by each component may be executed by recording aprogram for realizing the embodiment of the present invention in acomputer-readable recording medium, reading the program recorded in therecording medium into a computer system, and executing the read program.In addition, the “computer system” referred to herein may includehardware, such as an OS (Operating System) or a surrounding device.

In addition, the “computer system” may also include a homepagepresenting environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.In addition, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to writablenonvolatile memories such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disc, aROM, and a flash memory, portable media such as a CD-ROM, and arecording device such as a hard disk built in a computer system.

In addition, the ‘computer-readable recording medium’ may include arecording medium that stores a program dynamically for a short period oftime like a network, such as the Internet, or a communication line whena program is transmitted through a communication line such as atelephone line, and include a recording medium that stores a program fora predetermined period of time like a volatile memory (for example, aDRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)) in a computer system serving as aserver or a client in this case. In addition, the program may betransmitted from a computer system, which has a storage device or thelike that stores the program, to another computer system through atransmission medium or a transmission wave in the transmission medium.Here, the ‘transmission medium’ that transmits a program refers to amedium with a function of transmitting information like a network(communication network), such as the Internet, or a communication line,such as a telephone line. In addition, the above program may be aprogram for realizing some of the functions described above or may be aso-called difference file (difference program) capable of realizing theabove functions by combination with a program already recorded in thecomputer system.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described indetail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is notlimited to the above-described embodiments, and design and the likewhich do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are alsoincluded.

1. An information control apparatus comprising: a determination unitthat determines at least an attribute of an object to be analyzed on thebasis of captured image data acquired by an imaging apparatus fixed to asignal; and an output unit that outputs determination result informationof the determination unit to a data analyzing unit that generatesanalysis result information on the basis of at least the attribute ofthe object to be analyzed.
 2. The information control apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: an image processing unit thatcalculates a moving speed of the object to be analyzed on the basis ofthe captured image data.
 3. The information control apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein types of the object to be analyzed are a vehicle anda person, and the attributes of the object to be analyzed comprises atleast one of a vehicle type, a vehicle's license plate number, a vehiclebody color, a sex of the person, an age of the person, and a height ofthe person.
 4. The information control apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the output unit transmits the analysis result information to theobject to be analyzed.
 5. The information control apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the output unit transmits the captured image data tothe object to be analyzed on the basis of the analysis resultinformation.
 6. The information control apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the data analyzing unit calculates an incidence rate of suddenbraking of the vehicle, which is the object to be analyzed, bystatistical processing on the basis of the determination resultinformation and acquires the calculated incidence rate of sudden brakingas the analysis result information.
 7. The information control apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the data analyzing unit calculates theincidence rate of sudden braking by statistical processing for each areaon the basis of a position corresponding to signal identificationinformation for identifying the signal and acquires the calculatedincidence rate of sudden braking as the analysis result information. 8.The information control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dataanalyzing unit detects at least two vehicles, each of which is theobject to be analyzed and entering an intersection from differentdirections, on the basis of the determination result information,calculates a possibility of collision of the vehicles at theintersection on the basis of the moving speeds of the vehicles, andacquire the possibility of collision as the analysis result information.9. The information control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thedata analyzing unit generates information regarding road congestioncaused by vehicles and acquires the information as the analysis resultinformation, based on the determination result information.
 10. Theinformation control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dataanalyzing unit acquires information regarding a vehicle that hasviolated a traffic rules, among vehicles which are the objects to beanalyzed, as the analysis result information on the basis of thedetermination result information.
 11. The information control apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the data analyzing unit acquiresinformation, which can be used in marketing analysis of an area wherethe signal is placed, as the analysis result information on the basis ofthe number or attribute of the objects to be analyzed based on thedetermination result information.
 12. The information control apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the data analyzing unit bills a user of avehicle to which the analysis result information is transmitted.
 13. Theinformation control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:the data analyzing unit.
 14. A data analyzing apparatus comprising: adata analyzing unit that is connected to an output unit, which outputsdetermination result information indicating a result determined by adetermination unit that determines at least one of types, attributes,and numbers of objects to be analyzed on the basis of captured imagedata acquired by an imaging apparatus fixed to a signal, withcorresponding signal identification information for identifying thesignal, and that generates analysis result information on the basis ofthe attribute of the object to be analyzed based on the determinationresult information.
 15. A signal comprising the information controlapparatus according to claim
 1. 16. A server comprising the informationcontrol apparatus according to claim
 1. 17. An information controlsystem comprising: a plurality of signals each comprises the informationcontrol apparatus according to claim 1; and a server that comprises thedata analyzing apparatus according to claim 14 and communicates with theplurality of signals.
 18. A program causing a computer to function as:determination means for determining at least one of types, attributes,and numbers of objects to be analyzed on the basis of a captured imagedata acquired by an imaging apparatus fixed to a signal; and outputmeans for outputting a determination result information, which indicatesa result determined by the determination means, to data analysis meansfor generating an analysis result information on the basis of theattributes of the object to be analyzed based on the determinationresult information.
 19. A signal control apparatus comprising: a controlunit that changes a display state of a signal display unit fixed to asignal on the basis of an image captured by an imaging unit; and abattery unit that supplies electric power to each component of thesignal control apparatus.
 20. The signal control apparatus according toclaim 19, wherein the control unit comprises: a detection section whichdetects a volume of traffic on the basis of the captured image; and adisplay control section which changes the display state of the signaldisplay unit on the basis of the detected volume of traffic.
 21. Thesignal control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the detectionsection detects a volume of traffic in each of the plurality of lanes onthe basis of an image of the plurality of lanes captured by the imagingunit, and the display control section changes the display state of thesignal display unit on the basis of a result of comparison of thedetected volume of traffic in each of the plurality of lanes.
 22. Thesignal control apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the displaycontrol section changes the display state of the signal display unit onthe basis of a result of comparison of the detected volume of traffic ineach of the plurality of lanes so that vehicles traveling in a lane witha high volume of traffic can move with priority over vehicles travelingin a lane with a low volume of traffic.
 23. The signal control apparatusaccording to claim, wherein the detection section detects a type of avehicle on the basis of the captured image, and the display controlsection changes the display state of the signal display unit so that anemergency vehicle is movable when the detected type of the vehicle isthe emergency vehicle.
 24. The signal control apparatus according toclaim 23, further comprising: a sound pickup unit that picks up a sound,wherein when detecting a type of a vehicle on the basis of the capturedimage, the detection section detects the type of the vehicle on thebasis of the captured image and the sound picked up by the sound pickupunit.
 25. The signal control apparatus according to claim 19, whereinwhen a vehicle changes a course so as to cross an opposite lane to alane in which the vehicle has traveled until now, the control unitchanges the display state of the signal display unit on the basis of animage captured by the imaging unit so that priority is given to thevehicle which changes course.
 26. The signal control apparatus accordingto claim 19, wherein when a vehicle changes a course so as to cross anopposite lane to a lane in which the vehicle has traveled until now, thecontrol unit changes the display state of the signal display unit sothat a period of movable time for the vehicle which changes the courseis adjusted.
 27. The signal control apparatus according to claim 19,wherein when an electric power is supplied to each component provided inthe signal control apparatus by the battery unit, the control unitchanges the display state of the signal display unit on the basis of animage captured by the imaging unit.
 28. The signal control apparatusaccording to claim 19, wherein in the signal display unit, each lightemitting section corresponding to one signal comprises a plurality oflight emitting elements, and when making the light emitting sectionlight, the control unit makes some of the plurality of light emittingelements provided in the light emitting section emit light orextinguished while making the plurality of light emitting elements emitlight such that a position of a place of the emission or theextinguishing in the light emitting section changes.
 29. The signalcontrol apparatus according to claim 28, wherein when making the lightemitting section light, the control unit makes some of the plurality oflight emitting elements provided in the light emitting section emitlight or extinguished while making the plurality of light emittingelements emit light such that a place of the emission or theextinguishing rotates, moves, enlarges, or is reduced in the lightemitting section.
 30. The signal control apparatus according to claim28, wherein when making the light emitting section light, the controlunit changes a brightness of the extinguished light emitting element,which is the light emitting element provided in the light emittingsection that lights.
 31. The signal control apparatus according to claim19, wherein the imaging unit is fixed to the signal.
 32. The signalcontrol apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the imaging unit is animaging apparatus which performs imaging in the azimuth of 360°.
 33. Thesignal control apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the imaging unitis fixed to the signal so as to image a lane in which traffic iscontrolled by the display state of the signal display unit.
 34. A signalcomprising the signal control apparatus according to claim
 19. 35. Thesignal according to claim 34, wherein the signal is a temporary signalfor construction.
 36. A program causing a program to execute controlprocedures for changing a display state of a signal display unit, whichis fixed to a signal, on the basis of an image captured by an imagingunit.